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Senior Arts Reporter

Organisers for the Arts Factory Project have said that at least 18 participants gained insight and information on digital strategies for marketing and audience building.

The two-day digital technology workshop was hosted by Kunzwana Trust in Harare and Bulawayo.

The workshops were part of Kunzwana Trust’s Arts Factory Project, supported by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust Creative Actions programme, co-funded by the European Union.

The Harare workshop was held at Music Crossroads with good cooperation from that institution which continues to provide artists with music education.

The facilitating team comprised musicians and music teachers Nick Nare, Prudence Katomeni, Tom Collen and Penny Yon, a musician and arts administrator from Kunzwana.

Participants ranged from the young artists like Tendai Mavengeni (Mbira musician, singer), and singer-songwriters Nicholar Mutuwa and April Lloyd, Ray Mupfumira, Tendex, Vee Mhofu and Tina Watyoka.

Fab Fusion duo Brennan and Faith Wyngard, researcher and writer Ms Joyce Jenje Makwenda also attended.

The Bulawayo digital technologies workshop was facilitated by William Sampindi, the arts director of 14th Avenue Digital, assisted by Ian White of Kunzwana Trust in the City of Kings.

Participants included Dalubuhle Mdlongwa (comedian), CeeJay Tshuma and Ethan Sesedza (musicians) Helen Nyati (vocalist) and Natasha Nyoni (scriptwriter).

Rachael Ncube (poet), Vuya Brown (singer/songwriter) and Tariro Gurure (production manager) also attended.

The workshop took the form of inclusive and open sharing of experience in order to identify individual potential for self-actualisation based on cultural and artistic identity; management strategies, digital platforms – do-it-yourself (DIY) self-promotion at low cost; developing a digital identity; being an artist in Bulawayo; the power of collaboration; branding – image, consistency, context, authenticity and creativity; and the importance of context in creativity.

Participants in both cities agreed that such opportunities to advance in the digital space are crucial to artists’ survival while the short workshop was able to offer insights and some brief but valuable information on where to find more.